More of the same for downtrodden Scots

The pressure mounts on coach Frank Hadden as his new approach fails to silence the ever-growing band of critics

In the half-hour before kick-off, Frank Hadden got uncharacteristically animated, pumping his fists aggressively in the faces of several Scotland players as they went about their warm-up.

After another 80 minutes where some again sold their talents short, he must have felt like repeating the gesture, only this time ensuring he made contact. Scotland's Six Nations flickered into life here, at times there was almost even a steady flame of hope, but once more the team's own constituents seemed determined to snuff it out.

With a much more clearly drawn gameplan, and a strong shot of spirit added alongside, they had themselves a base. Their own errors once more swept it from beneath them, Scottish prints on the edges of the first three Irish tries.

While the fact Scotland actually turned up here means there is no doubt over Hadden's own presence against the English in a fortnight, it could